IPL 2020, SRH vs KXIP LIVE: A lot depends on both captains' performances in today's match. (BCCI/IPL)IPL 2020, SRH vs KXIP Team Predicted Playing 11 for Today Match LIVE Updates: David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are facing each other today at Dubai International Cricket Stadium with an eye on a win. Both teams have four points each in five matches they have played so far.
Punjab will be seeking to break the three-match losing streak. Having won the first two games, the KXIP lost three games in a row against Rajasthan Royals (RR), MI and CSK. While Sunrisers lost their first two games of the season against RCB and KKR, they bounced back and won two games in a row, beating Delhi and Chennai. However, SRH could not complete a hat-trick of wins following their defeat against Mumbai.
KXIP are currently languishing at the bottom of the table after losing four of their five games, while SRH are only slightly better at sixth following two wins and three losses so far. KXIP’s strength has been in a formidable opening duo. Skipper KL Rahul has been in scintillating form this year, scoring two fifties and a century, while Mayank Agarwal also has a half-century and a ton to his credit. The two have done the heavy-lifting for the team.
On the other hand, Sunrisers, who are blessed with a strong top order comprising Jonny Bairstow, David Warner, Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson, will look to exploit a low-on-confidence KXIP’s bowling unit. However, the Orange Army was dealt a massive blow when senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ruled out of the tournament with a thigh muscle injury.
Probable XIs:
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (C), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan. Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Siddarth Kaul/Khaleel Ahmed
Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul (C), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Harpreet Brar/Murugan Ashwin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Shami, Sheldon Cottrell/Hardus Viljoen
Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI): KL Rahul(c), Mayank Agarwal, Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran(w), Simran Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammed Shami, Sheldon Cottrell
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): David Warner(c), Jonny Bairstow(w), Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, K Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan
KXIP: Prabhsimran, Arshdeep and Mujeeb come in for Jordan, Brar and Sarfaraz.
SRH: Khaleel in for Kaul.
No Gayle yet again
Sunrisers Hyderabad have won the toss and have opted to bat
Sunrisers face the conundrum of either providing stability in the middle order or strengthening their bowling attack. They have the option of playing experienced Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi or West Indies' Fabian Allen but that would mean Willamson will have to sit out.
Nicholas Pooran has also looked sharp but Glenn Maxwell is yet to fire. So there is a chance Chris Gayle might get a game tonight!
KXIP are currently languishing at the bottom of the table after losing four of their five games, while SRH are only slightly better at sixth following two wins and three losses so far.
That last two games have witnessed high scores. KXIP themselves saw CSK ruthlessly chase down their target without losing a wicket and Delhi Capitals posted 196 at the same venue on Tuesday (October 5). Captains will once again be in a dilemma in terms of what to do after winning the toss.
Kings XI Punjab Predicted Playing XI: Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (C), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, J Suchith, Mohammad Shami, Sheldon Cottrell, Ravi Bishnoi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Sunrisers Hyderabad Predicted Playing XI: David Warner (C), Jonny Bairstow (WK), Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi, T Natarajan
Kolkata Knight Rider’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy had a memorable moment on Wednesday night when he got the crucial wicket of MS Dhoni, ensuring CSK do not develop any momentum. Chakravarty had clean bowled Dhoni (11) in the 17th over of the innings.
CSK needed 44 in the last three overs when Dhoni collected a boundary off a wide delivery from Chakravarthy. The leggie displayed his skills as he bowled a leg-cutter, missing Dhoni’s slog sweep when he claimed a huge wicket of one of the best finishers. CSK fell short of 10 runs when they could score just 157 runs in 20 overs.
Varun, who was on top of the world after the crucial wicket, asked the former India captain Dhoni for a photograph after the match and the latter obliged. Varun said, “I was feeling the pressure when Mahi Bhai was at the crease because three years back I used to go to Chepauk and I used to watch the matches just because of Dhoni. Bowling to him was a surreal moment for me, the pitch was really flat against CSK. [Read More]
The best of Sunrisers Hyderabad's Manish Pandey is yet to come as the aggressive batsman has scored just 147 runs in 5 matches so far. Pande has hit an only half-century in the season when he played 38-ball 51 against KKR. The Orange Army must be waiting for Pandey to let his bat do the talking today.
Here's a look at both team's performance at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium:
The Orange Army was dealt a massive blow when senior paacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ruled out of the tournament with a thigh muscle injury. In Bhuvneshwar’s absence, Sunrisers struggled with their bowling. Apart from T Natarajan, pacers Sandeep Sharma and Siddarth Kaul leaked runs.
KXIP’s strength has been in a formidable opening duo. Skipper KL Rahul has been in scintillating form this year, scoring two fifties and a century, while Mayank Agarwal also has a half-century and a ton to his credit. The two have done the heavy-lifting for the team.
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the batsmen let the team down after a spirited comeback by the bowlers in their Indian Premier League game against Kolkata Knight Riders here. Chasing 168, veteran opener Shane Watson struck his second successive fifty to give CSK a perfect start on Wednesday, but the team choked at the back end of the innings and was restricted to 157 for five to suffer its fourth defeat in five matches.
“In the middle overs, there was a phase when they bowled two-three good overs. Then we lost two-three wickets in a row. If our batting was different during that period, the result would have been different,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Hello and welcome to another live blog on IPL 2020 and it's match number 22 today. Sunrisers will take on Kings XI with an eye on the win. Their bowling attacks struggling to find form, Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad will look towards their power-hitters to do the job when the two erratic teams go head to head today.